january infomation

Highlights

Japanese New Year

New Year is the most important holiday in Japan. Families gather to spend the days together, and most businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3.
Visiting Japan during the time may be inconvenient, as many tourist attractions, shops and restaurants are closed, but can be a good opportunity to experience the traditional atmosphere.

Hatsumode

JAN.1 - JAN.5

Hatsumode refers to the year's first visit to Shinto Shrines.
On this visit, people pray for many different things for the coming year, such as health, safety, passing an exam etc.
Each Shinto Shrine is said to have a significant benefit, and people go to the different shrine depend on their wishes.

Heianjingu Shrine

From the New Year’s Eve till the New Year’s Day, the entrance is being opened, and all garden lanterns are lighted.
At night of the New Year’s Day, the shrine is lighted up.

The shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, and it is surrounded by holy forests. In the precincts, there are more than 20 shrines besides the main shrine.

[ Shimogamojinja Shrine ]

Tel : 075-781-0010
Access : City Bus No.205 “Shimogamo Jinja Mae”

Yasaka-jinja Shrine

This shrine was originally Gionkanjinin and the head of God for Yasaka Gion Shrines across the nation. Yasaka Shrine is affectionately called “Gion no Yasakasan”. You can enjoy flavor of New Year’s days in Gion.

[ Yasaka-jinja Shrine ]

Tel : 075-561-6155
Access : City Bus No.206 “Gion”

Rokuharamitsuji-Temple

Kamigamo-jinja Shrine

Enshrined God is Wakeikazuchinomikoto. It is said to remove our misfortunes by strong power like thunder. Main stage as national heritage is being opened until January 5th and you can go and worship at the shrine. On January 5th, Shinnen-Kyoensai(New Year’s Banquet Festival) takes place here.

This shrine is famous as “amorous shrine” in Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
You can do “Enmusubi(marriage)” and paying a visit to this shrine on New Year's Day.
You need to pay more 300 yen to enter Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

[ Jisyu-jinjya Shrine ]

Tel : 075-541-2097
Access : City Bus No.206 "Kiyomizu-michi"

Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine

Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine is the head shrine of Inari. Senbon torii (a row of the Japanese vermilion gates) which can be found during Oyama tour is spectacular.

[ Fushimi-inari-taisha Shrine ]

Tel : 075-641-7331
Access : JR Nara-line, "Inari"Station

Fushimi-Inari

Kitano-tenmanngu Shrine

Worshipers come from all over the country for pray pass an examination, because Michizane Sugawara, very intelligent person is enshrined.

[ Kitano-tenmanngu Shrine ]

Tel:075-461-0005
Access : City Bus No.50 "Kitano-Tenmangu Mae"

Kitano-tenmangu Shrine

Ujigami-jinjya Shrine

A style of this building is oldest type in Japan.
And this shrine is specified to a world cultural heritage.

[ Ujigami-jinjya Shrine ]

Tel:0774-21-4634
Access : Keihan Uji-line “Uji”Station

Shiramine-jingu Shrine

“Mari no sei daimyojin” the god of ball the precinct is in a shrine. Now, this god is called the god of soccer, and other sports.

[ Shiramine jinju Shrine ]

Tel:075-441-3810
Access : City Bus No.9 "Horikawa Imadegawa"

Tanukidanisan Fudoin Temple

Temple for traffic safety.
Burned small pieces of holy wood before a Buddhist altar to pray safety of the year. Prayers are given gratitude from the temple.

[ Tanukidanisan Fudoin Temple ]

Tel : 075-722-0025
Access : City Bus No.5 “Ichijoji-Sagarimatsucho”

Kiyomizudera-Temple

The small three-storied pagoda which is one of important cultural properties is worshipped as Koyasu-no-to Pagoda (Koyasu-Kannon) on Minami-dani's hill facing the main temple.

[ Kiyomizudera-Temple ]

Tel : 075-551-1234
Access : City Bus No. 206 "Kiyomizu-michi"

Gokono-miya-jinja Shrine

This shrine's precinct used to be used as Satsuma's fort during the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. There can be found Fushimi Castle's feature and the vestige of Edo period. On January7, Nanakusa rice porridge is served as reception for 300yen.

Since The Medieval Period, this temple was believed as "Houyoke"
This area was the one of "Toba Imperial villa"

[ Jyounan-gu Shrine ]

Tel: 075-623-0846
Access: take underground "Takeda" and City bus South No.1, 2, or 3 "Jyounanguu-higashiguchi"

Matsunootaisha Shrine

The shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto. It is famous as the deity of casting. The main shrine which is named "Matsunoo built" is an important cultural assets. The garden is also worth to seeing.

[ Matsunootaisha Shrine ]

Tel: 075-871-5016
Access: City Bus No.28 "Matsuotaisha Mae"

Seimei-jinjya Shrine

The mark of the star called "Seimei Kikyo" represent space that is Onmyodo's mark.
Sticker and talisman drawn it has effect of turning away devils.
Saitan-sai Festival start at 8a.m

[ Seimei-jinjya Shrine ]

Tel: 075-441-6460
Access: City Bus No.9 "Ichizyo -modoribashi"

Nonomiya-jinjya Shrine

"Koshibagaki" of torii made by wood is black in precinct imply "Nonomiya" written in "The tale of Genji".
Paying a visit to this shrine on New Year's Day in center of "Sagano" is very interesting.

[ Nomiya-jinjya Shrine ]

Tel: 075-871-1972
Access: Kyoto Bus No.72 "Nonomiya"

Umenomiya-taisha Shrine

This shrine is very famous as being pregnant and easy birth. And It remains custom of Matage-Ishi (be told if you stride over the holy stone, you can get pregnant.) and Ubusuna ( is talisman to get pregnant.)

[ Umenomiya-taisha Shrine ]

Tel: 075-861-2730
Access: City Bus No.28 "Umenomiya-taisha mae"

Yoshida-jnja Shrine

This shrine is located at the foot of Mt. Yoshida. In the Muromachi Period, Kanemitsu Yoshida developed Yoshida Shinto and enhanced authority of it. There are compound sentences and some attached shrines in precinct.

3 days from New Years day, people pray their first visit to this shrine. The 3rd day, we do amendment meeting. We use stamp called "Ofunagou" and ancient times seal worships to wish for peace fore head. Many people are paying their first visiting of the year to share good luck to the famous monk Kukai.

[ Touji Temple ]

Tel: 075-691-3325
Access: Kintetsu Railway "Toji" Station

Iwashimizu-hachimangu Shrine

This shrine is opened at midnight on January 1st and the prayer is started here.
Sacred arrows, sacred cards, talismans and votive picture tablets of a horse are started to sell all at once. A lot of people come from even distant places for Hatsumode and they enjoy traditional sacred events.

The shrine has a stone "Mikaeri Iwa" (turn around-stone)
It is said that the famous scholar, Sugawara Michizane had sat down on it wistfully before he demoted to go to Dazaifu.

[ Nagaoka-tenmangu Shrine ]

Tel: 075-951-1025
Access: Hankyu Kyoto-line "Nagaoka Tenjin" Station

● Transportation around the New Year’s Day ●
City Bus service will work from 23p.m.on the last day of the year to 5a.m. on New Year’s Day.
City Subway / Keihan Line / Hankyu Line work though the night.
(The schedule change will be expected.)

Fairs and Flea Markets

Hatsu Ebisu Festival

JAN.8 - JAN.12

Ebisu Shrine

Ebisu (one of the Seven Lucky Gods) is not only the patron deity of merchants but also patron deity of agriculture and fishery.

Jan.21 is called “Hatsu Kobo” because the day is the anniversary of a Kobo-Daishi (Kukai)’s death. In the precincts of the temple, there are about 1,200 roadside stands. Antiques, special products, potted plants, earthenware, old kimono & obi, etc. are sold there. People remember old days, so there is crowed from the morning.

[ Toji Temple ]

Tel : 075-691-3325
Access : Kintetsu Railway “Toji Station”

Hatsutenjin

JAN.25

Kitano-tenmangu Shrine

“Hatsutenjin” means a fate day of the New Year. More than 1.000 street stalls are opened in precincts every years and exhibition of works about the New Year`s calligraphy exercise is held.
Hobutsuden” ,treasure of the Shinto shrine, is shown only in this day.

Fee : Houmotsuden (Treasure House) ¥500

[ Kitano-tenmangu Shrine ]

Tel : 075-461-0005
Access : City Bus No. 50 “Kitano-tenmangu mae”

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Information is subject to change. Please confirm information before coming to Kyoto.